On this page
If you want to study architecture in India, your Class 12 marks are only half the story. You also need a score in an aptitude test in architecture, and NATA is the test the Council of Architecture runs itself. This post explains what NATA 2026 tested, how the scoring worked and who could sit it, using only the official brochure. It ends with a plan for the months before the test. CoA has changed the format several times in recent years, so always read the current brochure on nata.in before you plan.
What is NATA and who runs it?
The NATA 2026 information brochure describes the Council of Architecture (CoA) as a statutory body set up under the Architects Act, 1972. It regulates architecture education and keeps the register of architects. CoA has conducted NATA since 2006.
The brochure says the regulations require a candidate to qualify an aptitude test in architecture conducted either by CoA (NATA) or by NTA (JEE) for admission to the architecture degree. CoA does not admit students itself. State admission authorities and institutions do that, using a valid NATA score and the eligibility rules.
What does the NATA exam look like?
NATA 2026 had two parts, each 90 minutes long, for a total of 200 marks.
Part A, Drawing and Composition (offline, 80 marks). A1 Composition and Colour (25 marks), A2 Sketching and Composition in black and white (25 marks), and A3 3D Composition (30 marks), built from a kit provided at the centre.
Part B, MCQ and NCQ (computer-based adaptive test, 120 marks). 42 multiple-choice questions and 8 "no choice" questions, 50 in all, at 108 seconds per question.
Part B draws on visual reasoning, logical derivation, general knowledge of architecture and design, language interpretation, design sensitivity and numerical ability. The brochure describes numerical ability as basic mathematics and "to unfold a space with use of geometry". The test was offered in English and Hindi.
How should you split your time in each part?
A little arithmetic helps you plan. Part A is 80 of 200 marks, so drawing is 40 per cent of the total. If you split Part A's 90 minutes in proportion to marks:
A1: 90 × 25/80 = 28.1 minutes, so about 28 minutes.
A2: the same, about 28 minutes.
A3: 90 × 30/80 = 33.75 minutes, so about 34 minutes.
That adds up to 90 minutes. For Part B, 50 questions × 108 seconds = 5,400 seconds, which is exactly 90 minutes. A useful practice target is a set of 10 questions in 18 minutes.
How did NATA scoring work in 2026?
NATA 2026 used percentile scores. Phase 1 ran on set Fridays and Saturdays from 4 April to 13 June 2026. You could take up to two attempts, and the higher raw score was used to work out your percentile. Phase 1 scores were used for centralised admission counselling.
Phase 2 was held on 7 and 8 August 2026 for students who had not taken Phase 1. It allowed one attempt, gave a raw score only and was meant for seats left vacant after counselling. You could appear in only one phase. The brochure sets no minimum raw score to qualify. A final scorecard with a raw score and a non-zero percentile counts as a valid qualifying score, valid for the 2026-27 session. The NATA website confirms that Phase 1 and Phase 2 results for 2026 have been declared.
Who can sit NATA and who can be admitted?
The brochure lets you take NATA if you have passed, or are appearing in, 10+2 with the required subjects, or a 10+3 diploma with Mathematics. Admission to B.Arch is stricter. You need 10+2 or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, plus one of Chemistry, Biology, a technical vocational subject, Computer Science, Information Technology, Informatics Practices, Engineering Graphics or Business Studies, with at least 45 per cent marks in aggregate. A 10+3 diploma with Mathematics and at least 45 per cent also qualifies.
This rule has changed over time. The CoA Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Regulations, 2020, as first published, asked for at least 50 per cent in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. The brochure quotes the rule as it now stands. Reservation and any relaxation of marks follow the rules of the state or admission authority.
NATA or JEE Main Paper 2?
Both routes count for B.Arch admission, but each admission authority decides which scores it uses and how. Our guide to JEE Main Paper 2 for B.Arch and B.Planning explains the NTA route. Before you register, check the counselling rules for the colleges you want. If your family is unsure about architecture as a path, our post on what to do when a child chooses a different career may help that conversation.
A preparation plan for the months before NATA
Week 1: read the rules. Download the current brochure. Write down the test windows, how many attempts you get and the eligibility rule for your subjects.
Drawing, three times a week. Do one timed composition in 28 minutes. Alternate colour work with black-and-white sketching that shows scale, proportion and shadow. Once a week, build a quick 3D composition from paper or card in 34 minutes.
Part B, three times a week. Do sets of 10 mixed questions in 18 minutes, covering visual reasoning, logic, language and numerical ability. Keep a log of the question types you miss.
Geometry and mensuration once a week. Numerical ability leans on areas, volumes and visualising solids. If those topics feel rusty, Fermi's Concept Library covers every concept in mathematics, each with its own lesson and its place in the map.
Protect your Class 12 marks. A strong NATA score is no use if your aggregate falls below the eligibility line.
Today, download the brochure from nata.in and time yourself on one 28-minute composition.
